Engineering Company Broadens Maintenance Offering

Engineering Company Broadens Maintenance Offering In conjunction with industrial company Timken South Africa, diversified engineering company Bearing Man¡¯s bearings division has expanded its product service base. Bearing Man now offers a complete remanufacturing and repair service, where used bearings are reconditioned to meet each brand¡¯s original specifications for maximum performance and extended service life. When preventive maintenance programmes complement reconditioning, bearings are capable of reaching their fullest potential. Bearing Man¡¯s bearings division product manager, Rouff Essop, says, ¡°This repair service includes a customised assessment, analysis, remanufacturing and preventive maintenance programme for bearings and auxiliary components used in diverse industries.¡± He adds that the value of remanufacturing is enormous in that it ensures substantial savings in down time and reduced replacement costs. A reconditioned bearing can save up to 90% of the cost and time of buying a new one. ¡°Efficient refurbishing options, using the most sophisticated pro-cesses and equipment, are offered for all brands, types and sizes of bearings. Bearing Man¡¯s engineering team works closely with a company¡¯s maintenance group to analyse the condition of bearings and to assess when a bearing needs to be ser-viced. ¡°By paying attention to details during regular maintenance checks, a company can determine if a bearing needs maintenance before it causes unnecessary down time and expense. Careful observation is the first step to creating a programme that monitors a bearing¡¯s operation,¡± he says. The following factors need to be considered when the bearing is nearing the end of its expected life expectancy: has the bearing exceeded an operating temperature of 93 degrees Celsius, and has it been exposed to excessive vibration, or has the bearing experienced a sudden drop or gain in lubrication. To apply the appropriate solution to a damaged bearing, the cause and extent of damage must be assessed. Environmental issues like the ingress of contamination and water into the bearing chamber are common problems for premature bearing failure. Other causes of damage include improper handling, inadequate lubrication, corrosion and etching, misalignment and the passage of an electric current while a bearing is rotating. Improper electric grounding while a bearing is stationary can also create small burns. Bearing Man¡¯s bearing maintenance and shutdown programmes are designed to optimise production efficiency, reduce down time and ensure cost-effective operation in all industrial applications, including power stations, wash, crushing and sizing plants, as well as milling and conveying machinery, draglines and other earthmoving equipment. When a machine is stripped down during maintenance or breakdown programmes, the ready availability of the correct components and efficient repair procedures significantly reduces down time and ensures optimum efficiency. Bearing Man¡¯s technical team is geared to solving all bearing problems and to manage breakdown fittings and troubleshooting exercises. The company¡¯s bearings division also runs ongoing technical training courses throughout the country. The topics include correct bearing selection, handling, installation and maintenance, as well as relevant information on the importance of correct shaft and bore tolerances and proper fitting tools and techniques. The advances in lubrication technology and the basics of condition monitoring and failure investigation are also covered.